SHOREWOOD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Village of Shorewood recently approved a plan for an affordable housing project that would replace a parking lot on Oakland Avenue.

The parking lot at 4450 N. Oakland Ave. holds 40-50 parking spaces.

“The parking lot means a lot to me, I live two buildings away and have a parking space here,” Shorewood resident Bill Meier said.

Meier has lived in the same building for 10 years and relies on the parking lot daily.

“I will definitely move if I don’t have a parking space here,” Meier said. “I don’t know where I would park.”

The affordable housing development would add nearly 20 homes to the area and has been in the works for six years.

“There was a years-long process of looking at different options and holding public meetings to get input from the public and housing experts,” Village Trustee Matt McGovern said.

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Meier says there was not proper communication or any feedback opportunities for those who rely on the parking lot.

“The village and the developer don't know, or they may know and don’t want to know on paper, that the people that live here are low-income,” Meier said. "This block here has some of the least expensive, best value apartments in Shorewood."

Meier also believes there is already enough affordable housing in Shorewood, but McGovern disagrees.

“If you ask anybody who looked for an apartment to rent lately or a home to buy, they will tell you there’s a shortage of affordable homes,” McGovern said.

McGovern is looking to add additional free parking and loading zones once the project begins.

“We’re going to try to work with people who have a permit there to provide other options for parking,” McGovern said.

The village has approved all that is needed for the project, and it will begin once the developer works out the final funding steps.

“Why are you hurting the people that are already here, living in Shorewood, in the buildings that are parking in this lot - including seniors and handicap people,” Meier said.